You're reading: Wall Street Journal: Ukrainian soccer star Shevchenko turns to politics

October’s parliamentary election in Ukraine is set to pitch the former Soviet republic’s two greatest sportsmen against each other after soccer star Andriy Shevchenko said Saturday he is entering politics.

The former European player of the year–who had been expected to head
to the U.S. for a big-money end to his career–will likely face off
against heavyweight boxing champ Vitali Klitschko in the ballot in two
of a plethora of parties that say they oppose President Viktor
Yanukovych. Sources in the party he joined, called Ukraine–Forward!,
told Ukrainian media that Mr. Shevchenko would be No. 2 on its party
list, from which deputies are elected.

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